Agriculture News

Sanctions that were lifted in 2015 will now enter into force Tuesday morning and will target Iranian purchases of U.S. dollars, metals trading, coal industrial software and its auto sector. President Donald Trump is renewing the sanctions to cut off Iranian leadership’s access to certain resources. (Reuters)

A trading analyst says farmers aren’t likely to notice any difference in how USDA releases its supply and demand report on Friday, the first under a new agency policy. But farmers might notice larger anticipated yields for both corn and soybeans, which currently stand at 174 and 48.5 bushels per acre, respectively. (FarmWeekNow.com)

Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer’s amendment to extend the electronic logging device waivers for livestock haulers by one year passed in the Senate late last week, allowing more time to amend current hours of service rules and provide flexibility needed for livestock haulers. The extension replaces the current deadline of Sept. 30, 2018 for livestock haulers…. read more

FARMWEEK PREVIEW – Be sure to check out next week’s issue of FarmWeek to read stories about IFB President Richard Guebert Jr.’s trade-focused meeting with Canadian Consul General John Cruickshank; U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President Greg Hanes’ in-depth look at meat prices; and IFB’s activities at the 2018 Illinois State Fair.

WAITING FOR THE RIGHT PITCH? – Ken Isley, administrator for USDA’s Foreign Ag Service, encouraged farmers to be patient as the administration negotiates trade agreements. China’s $12.4 billion worth of demand for U.S. soybeans, for instance, won’t be made up overnight, he said. “We’re trying. We’re going to hit a lot of singles.” As for… read more

GONE VEGAN? NOPE. – According to a recent Gallup poll, few Americans follow vegetarian or vegan diets, despite long-running campaigns from animal rights activists. Fewer than one in 10 Americans adhere to such diets, with 5 percent in the U.S. identifying as vegetarian and just 3 percent identifying as vegan. Those numbers are little changed… read more

NAFTA TALKS CONTINUE – Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo this week said Friday’s NAFTA talks with the U.S. were not likely to touch on the “sunset clause.” The clause, proposed by the U.S., would kill NAFTA if it isn’t renegotiated every five years and has been a point of contention during talks. (Reuters)

CHINA THREATENS NEW TARIFFS – China Friday said it would slap duties on $60 billion of U.S. products if President Donald Trump goes ahead with his plan to increase levies on Chinese goods. Meanwhile, White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow Friday said Trump has no plans to ease up on the Asian country. “We’ve… read more

HEALTH CARE RECOMMENDATION – Illinois Farm Bureau’s Health Care Working Group has recommended exploring an association health plan (AHP) as a way to lower insurance costs and increase access to health insurance for members, among other suggestions. In an AHP, small employers and consumers band together, as if they were a single, large employer. (FarmWeekNow.com)

CHINA TO U.S.: NICE TRY, BUT IT WON’T WORK – China Thursday fired back at President Donald Trump’s threat to double proposed tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, saying it won’t yield to White House pressure. “China has been fully prepared and will have to retaliate to defend national dignity and the people’s interests,”… read more

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